the next big thing

Back in the day of my first road bike (which I proudly rode for about 10 years!)

2 weeks after completing the race I've dreamed about for so many years, my mind keeps reverting to what's next? Kona was at the top of my bucket list for so long and was such a big goal for me that it feels like I almost totally wiped out my sport related bucket list.

I ran for the first time today. In fact, it was my first workout at all since Kona (well, except snorkeling and hiking in paradise :) ). I really had the urge to workout about 3 days after Kona but I really wanted to give my body some true rest. I usually like to start moving again with some yoga and spinning my legs out on the bike but seeing as how my bike hasn't made it out of the box yet....

I was so surprised at my recovery from this Ironman. I don't know if my body has finally adapted better to this distance, or if its Dirk's magic training or maybe just all the walking I did on the Queen K, but this time around my legs were kinda like "yea, ok thats fine. when's the next wko/race?" I was walking up and down stairs normally in record time (1 day) and didn't have any of that weird everything hurts soreness where everything from your scalp to your toenails is sore. I was even running down stairs at the airport just because I could! It was just my knees that were really a problem initially and had I not fallen on them and then done an ironman with bruised patellofemoral joints I don't think I would have even had that.

My first Ironman, it took me about 5 weeks to be able to run again and even when I was swimming, I thought I would sink. I ran 5 miles today and my heart rate was normal and I didn't have any of the deep fatigue in my legs I would normally feel. Very cool to feel my body adapt to this distance and all the endurance training so successfully!

Running with the club this morning after sleeping in (7:00!), doing some rehab and yoga, making breakfast and lingering over a cup of coffee has been heaven. Time is a luxury I have not had since training ramped up back in January. Neil has been in heaven with multiple hour back scratching sessions and we've fallen back into a nice routine of having more time to spend together without me passing out or preparing for the next training session.

But with all this, my mind keeps running. What's next (athletically anyhow, there's lots of other life and career plans in the works)? I'm an athlete, I'm competitive, I need some kind of goal but one that doesn't involve too much time, money or commitment.

I've thought about a marathon PR. I would be really curious to see if I can hit that 3:00-3:10 region but that would take some work to find my speed again. I've even thought about informally working with some running coaches around here just to really discover my running potential since I've never just straight up trained to run. I would also still like to break that magic 1:00 mark in the Gate 15k in march and maybe enter the super painful territory of a sub 19 5k (would rather run a marathon any day please). The idea is growing on me even though initially running by itself sounded awfully boring compared to triathlon. Plus anyone who even informally helps me get my speed back with a few ideas would have to be flexible enough to understand how not serious I would want to take my running despite my goals.

My heart seems to keep getting drawn back to the bike though. Life just doesn't feel right without a bike seat underneath me for at least some part of the time. My half built mountain bike keeps staring me in the face every morning when I get up and fall makes me long for living back in wisconsin where there existed a cross season. Maybe Xterra is where its at for me this year (yes, they have those in FL despite not so epic mountain biking). My seriously lacking technical skills on the trails would make that a super fun learning experience for me albeit painful (did I mention my nickname is stumbles?)

I keep returning to the thought of doing some road racing more than anything. Only problem is I sold my road bike so I could afford to go to St. George and funds are lacking for buying a new bike at the moment. I was so sold on this idea, I've even been contemplating selling my tri bike to free up some cash but the thought almost brings me to tears. I'm not that ready to say I'm breaking up with triathlon yet. At least now there's a possibility of more triathlon ahead. Road racing just sounds so refreshing and interesting. Something new to learn and the idea of the tactics involved would be such a learning experience. I love learning something totally new from the ground up. Being a newbie is a way cool experience and you are kind of immune to all the intricacies of the sport that wear on you when you are a veteran. Life is way too short for just one sport. Now I just gotta learn how to get hooked up with a road bike cheaply and figure out how this whole racing thing works. Clueless. Totally clueless. I love that challenge. I think crits would be out for me though, did a few in college and to be honest, I'm kind of over that level of risk of injury. With my job a serious injury can put me out of work. I need my body to make money these days.

There's a few more out there things I wonder about doing. Adventure racing or ultramarathoning sounds mildly appealing but I'm not sure I'm so sold on ultra distance running. There was a day I said no way I would ever do an ironman though (approximately 0.5 seconds after making it through my first 70.3 in 6+ hours as a green 21 year old in st. croix) so never say never.

There's all kinds of other possibilities too. I was watching cross fit nationals on espn and thinking how awesome it would be to be that strong. Sometimes I want to be some kind of super centered yoga guru or bad ass martial arts chick maybe? I can't wait to get back in the water and surf more, my lack of short boarding talent still bothers me and the idea of getting better at windsurfing still lingers in the back of my mind. The dreams and ideas keep coming....

So I don't know right now! Its kind of fun re-exploring what's out there and starting over. I need that next big kona-like thing to put on the bucket list for my post 30 year old life (next year is the big 3-0!). I'm just not sure it gets any bigger than the Ironman World Championships though and who wants to reach the peak of their athletic career at 29? Not me :) I definitely want to be back at Kona someday and I really want to be doing Ironman when I'm in my 70's or 80's if I still get to be around. That's just flat out badass. Although by the time my peers are that age, we will probably all be rocking sub 12 hour performances in our 80's still blowing each other's socks off for a chance at that podium. The idea that all of us will somehow come back to this sport as old ladies and that we will still be racing the same peeps in our 80's makes me smile. I hope we do that :)

For now its time to keep dreaming new dreams!!

Mission Accomplished.